Irish native set to become first woman leader of Oxford

Irish academic Prof Louise Richardson is set to become the first woman to lead the University of Oxford.

Prof Richardson has been nominated for the post of vice chancellor, the eminent university’s equivalent of a chief executive. If confirmed by the university’s ‘congregation’, she will succeed Prof Andrew Hamilton in January 2016.

In a statement, Prof Richardson spoke of her sense of privilege following the nomination, and her vision for the university.

“I am very much looking forward to working with talented, experienced, and dedicated colleagues to advance Oxford’s pre-eminent global position in research, scholarship, and teaching.”

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As of 2013, the post carried a salary of £434,000, making it the second best-paid position in UK universities.

The Waterford native is currently based at the University of St Andrews. She is an expert in terrorism and security issues, and previously worked at Harvard. She holds degrees from Trinity College, Dublin, UCLA and Harvard.

This news comes in the wake of the Higher Education Authority announcing a drive to promote more women in leadership roles.

Inspirefest 2015 is Silicon Republic’s international event running 18-20 June in Dublin that connects sci-tech professionals passionate about the future of STEM with fresh perspectives on leadership, innovation and diversity.

Kirsty served as Silicon Republic’s Careers Editor from when she joined the company in 2015 up to August 2017. When she was younger, she had a dream where she started and won a fight with a T-Rex, so she’s pretty sure she kicked butt at this, too. Passions include eating all the cake, watching more TV than is healthy, and sassy comebacks. Her favourite thing on the internet is, and will likely remain, Pun Dog.

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